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World Cafe WXPN in Philadelphia and host Raina Douris present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists
Shakey Graves Ruminates On 10 Years Of 'Roll The Bones'

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Magen Buse/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Shakey Graves Ruminates On 10 Years Of 'Roll The Bones'

XPN

Alejandro Rose Garcia's 2011 album is one of Bandcamp's most downloaded folk records. He joins us to discuss the record's deluxe reissue.

Shakey Graves on World Cafe

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The Culture Corner: 30 Years Since Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines'

Massive Attack performs live on Sept. 20, 2019, at The Met in Philadelphia. Matthew Shaver/WXPN hide caption

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Matthew Shaver/WXPN

Review

Studio Sessions

The Culture Corner: 30 Years Since Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines'

XPN

Thirty years ago, U.K. band Massive Attack released its debut album, Blue Lines, and changed music forever. We go back to the early '90s in Bristol in this first installment of The Culture Corner.

World Cafe's Culture Corner: Massive Attack

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Julien Baker's 'Little Oblivions' Goes Deep And Gets Personal

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Alysse Gafjken/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Julien Baker's 'Little Oblivions' Goes Deep And Gets Personal

XPN

On Baker's new album, there's no shying away from the tough stuff.

Julien Baker On World Cafe

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The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites Made A Record That Sounds Nothing Like The Lumineers

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Roberto Graziano Moro/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites Made A Record That Sounds Nothing Like The Lumineers

XPN

The co-founder of one of the biggest bands on the planet steps out to make an ... instrumental piano record.

Jeremiah Fraites on World Cafe

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Aaron Lee Tasjan's New Album Touches On Health, Being Alone, And Money

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Curtis Wayne Millard/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Aaron Lee Tasjan's New Album Touches On Health, Being Alone, And Money

XPN

Though these songs may sound like they were inspired by the pandemic, Aaron Lee Tasjan's had an anxious mind since before the lockdown.

Aaron Lee Tasjan on World Cafe

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David Gray Performs A Mini-Concert For World Cafe

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Still from video/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

David Gray Performs A Mini-Concert For World Cafe

XPN

Enjoy an intimate live performance of songs from Gray's latest album, Skellig.

David Gray on World Cafe

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Rick Steves Takes Us On A Musical Tour Of Europe

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Courtesy of Rick Steves

Studio Sessions

Rick Steves Takes Us On A Musical Tour Of Europe

XPN

Rick Steves is a travel guide, TV and radio host, and the author of several books. And lots of those stories have to do with music.

Rick Steves on World Cafe

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Get To Know Deep Sea Diver's Jessica Dobson

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Matt Wignall/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Get To Know Deep Sea Diver's Jessica Dobson

XPN

Not only does Dobson play a wicked guitar on Deep Sea Diver's new album, it's also the first time she's ever co-produced.

Deep Sea Diver on World Cafe

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The Hold Steady's 'Open Door Policy' Soundtracks An American Hangover

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Adam Parshall/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Hold Steady's 'Open Door Policy' Soundtracks An American Hangover

XPN

The band shares live performances of songs from its latest album, from the stage of Brooklyn Bowl.

The Hold Steady on World Cafe

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Langhorne Slim Knows A Thing Or Two About Anxiety And Creativity

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Harvey Robinson/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Langhorne Slim Knows A Thing Or Two About Anxiety And Creativity

XPN

Langhorne Slim's Strawberry Mansion is a stripped-back set of songs he wrote during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Langhorne Slim on World Cafe

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Lake Street Dive Takes A New Approach To Songwriting On 'Obviously'

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Chervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Lake Street Dive Takes A New Approach To Songwriting On 'Obviously'

XPN

In this session, hear a live performance from Lake Street Dive – marking the first time the group has performed songs from their new album, Obviously, in the same room.

Lake Street Dive On World Cafe

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Typhoon Explains The Challenges Of Recording An Album With 8 People, Mid-Lockdown

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Andrew Snyder/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Typhoon Explains The Challenges Of Recording An Album With 8 People, Mid-Lockdown

XPN

Recording an album with an eight member band in 2020? Portland band Typhoon did it – hear all about how their new album Sympathetic Magic came to be.

Typhoon on World Cafe

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Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Discusses The 'Unlistenable' Music He Made As A Teen

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Neil Krug/Courtesu of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Discusses The 'Unlistenable' Music He Made As A Teen

XPN

Parker joins us from his home in Australia to chat about about the very different year he's had, his album from last year, The Slow Rush and a quick dive into his entire musical history.

Tame Impala on World Cafe

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Genesis Owusu's Debut Album, 'Smiling With No Teeth,' Embodies Its Title

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Bailey Howard/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Genesis Owusu's Debut Album, 'Smiling With No Teeth,' Embodies Its Title

XPN

Owusu's Smiling With No Teeth is a big musical blender, showcasing his abilities in rock, hip-hop, soul, R&B and more, while meditating on depression and covert racism.

Genesis Owusu On World Cafe

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Midwest State Of Mind: Kevin Morby Explains 'Sundowner'

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Johnny Eastlund/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Midwest State Of Mind: Kevin Morby Explains 'Sundowner'

XPN

How do artists' surroundings influence their art? Kansas City musician Kevin Morby has lived in — and left — New York and Los Angeles, and he has some thoughts.

Kevin Morby On World Cafe

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The War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel Shares His Favorite Live Tracks

The War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel takes over the board in this episode. Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel Shares His Favorite Live Tracks

XPN

The War On Drugs' frontperson plays you five of his favorite live tracks from other artists.

The War On Drugs Guest DJ on World Cafe

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Hear Fleet Foxes Perform 4 Songs From 'Shore'

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Emily Johnston/Courtesy of the artists

Studio Sessions

Hear Fleet Foxes Perform 4 Songs From 'Shore'

XPN

Robin Pecknold, frontperson for Fleet Foxes, talks about his decision to put out an album in the middle of the pandemic when "putting out an album" comes with a lot of new challenges.

Fleet Foxes on World Cafe

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Daniel Lanois Is More Than Just A Legendary Producer

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Marthe Amanda Vannebo/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Daniel Lanois Is More Than Just A Legendary Producer

XPN

In this session, Lanois shares stories about his new album, Heavy Sun, and we'll look back on some classic albums from Bob Dylan, U2, Willie Nelson and more, that he has helped make.

Daniel Lanois on World Cafe

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 1

A sketch map of Saint-Domingue, a French colony in the Caribbean from 1659-1890. Following a revolution by enslaved Africans, the territory was declared the Republic of Haiti. Archive Photos/Getty Images hide caption

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Archive Photos/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 1

XPN

In order to understand the deep connections and musical relationship between Haiti and New Orleans, we must go back to before Haiti was Haiti.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 1

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 2

Circa 1795: Lithograph of Haitian general Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture, whose heroic stand against French rule thwarted Napoleon's ambition for a North American empire. MPI/Getty Images hide caption

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MPI/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 2

XPN

What we often call French is actually Haitian. We see this imprint on New Orleans in countless ways — in its food, architecture, art, but most notably, in the music.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 2

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